UWO714-Curriculum - Weeks 6-10

Week 6 (Oct. 15)Online		How do we achieve CCSS expectations while providing the right learning environment to promote 21st century skills? (post a response to this before week 11 - Nov 19) More Calls for Reform Everyone views/explores Aljezeera compares 2 US schools Johnathan Kozal part 1 Kozol part 2 Heidi Hayes Jacobs - Curriculum21 Discuss: Who wants what and why? How does this match with the goals and purposes of education and other calls for reform? Do you agree? How does your classroom, office, organization stack up? Write reflection paper 2 -- Due by Sunday Oct 23, midnight, email to andrthir@hssd.k12.wi.us Introduce: Standards Common Core State Standards Initiative Why Common Standards Won't Work HSSD documents
Week 7 (Oct 22)Online		Standards Read articles (jigsaw) Post summaries / reactions and comments (jigsaw) What is curriculum, anyway? American Educator, Spring 2008 -- read especially Common Ground: Clear, Specific Content Hold Teaching, Texts, and Tests Together (all available in pdf format) The Accountability Illusion hirsch.pdf Details Download 373 KB by E. D. Hirsch, Jr. Catching up or leading the way: American education in the age of globalization by Zhao (you bought the book!) and video How to Mold Public Opinion Against Public Schools -- see for international comparisons http://tinyurl.com/3dss2l http://www.ascdpolicypriorities.org/ascdpolicypriorities/0711?pg=1#pg1__ Understanding Common Core State Standards -- read available chapters http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/112011.aspx Additional Resources Equalizing Opportunity: Dramatic Differences in Children's Home Life and Health Mean that Schools Can't Do It Alone (social class differences between young children impact their learning and health) (pdf of article) The Myth of the "Culture of Poverty" by Paul Gorski (Educational Leadership, April 2008) Cultural Styles including Individualism vs Collectivism ( Managing Diverse Classrooms, ASCD) -- http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107014/chapters/A_New_Way_of_Thinking_About_Classroom_Management.aspx *Retention, From Beginning to End (Inside Higher Ed)* Wisconsin Technical College System Instruction page with link to WIDS
Week 8 (Oct. 29)Online		Standards Discuss - one post per student (general, or choose a question for focus) + one comment on another's post: Where do you stand on standards? (link to readings) How do your standards match the calls for reform? How do they match what you actually teach or programs/services your area/office offers? How do they match any manditory assessments/evaluations/reporting? How much do standards guide your actions? (or those in your field) Are your standards easy to read and interpret? Curriculum Approval Process Give your fingers a rest, read independently, tease out your organization's approval process Developing a quality curriculum by Glatthorn (you bought the book) chapters 1, 2 Find out how curriculum or programs gets approved in your organization (what's the process, timeline, and forms used -- obtain copies of forms) [[file:/C:/Documents and Settings/andrthir/My Documents/My Dropbox/CurrDevProcess.ppt\|Glatthorn's Curriculum Development Process PowerPoint and]] various people's roles Glatthorn's [[file:/C:/Documents and Settings/andrthir/My Documents/My Dropbox/CurrGuideContent.doc\|curriculum guide content (doc)]]
Week 9 (Nov. 5)Online		Discuss: Compare/contrast Glatthorn's recommended approval process to that used in your organization Curriculum Mapping Systems - explore at least one WIDS Wisconsin Based (Appleton) Curriculum Mapping System: (Menasha helped design). Build Your Own Curriculumhttp://mjsd.buildyourowncurriculum.com/public/course_search.aspx or BYOC's homepagehttp://www.schoolsoftwaregroup.com/BuildYourOwnCurriculum/CurriculumSoftware.aspx (Poynette) Eclipse Curriculum Manager (CESA 7) http://www.cesa7.org/rcc/Eclipse/ http://hssd.eclipsesecure.com/v3/login.php
Week 10 (Nov. 12)Online		Leading Change Read independently, work on identifying your leading change project** Leading change in your school: How to conquer myths, build commitment, and get results by Reeves (the third book you purchased) Consider how Reeve's ideas match with what you have experienced. Review a variety of leadership theories Leadership PPT (or pdf) and Leadership II pptx (or pdf) sketch out your improvement proposal (this will take the place of the third reflection paper) -- Presentation Due Dec 3, email to andrthir@hssd.k12.wi.us if you would like a reaction/discussion at this point, start a discussion, or send me something to react to! STUDENT-GENERATED ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS - potential improvement proposal topics... How are we going to improve Howard-Suamico School District? Who will lead and will there be followers willing to go along? What will occur if no change is made? What is my role as an informal leader for supporting and creating change? What do we believe as change that needs to happen? What steps need to be taken to change the mentality of the community towards education? Are the incorporation of 21st century skills ENOUGH reform for HSSD? What else needs to be done? How can I improve the Language Arts department without stepping on toes? Why do people in the educational field forget about what are best practices and instead become defensive over old practices? How do we maintain and assess a shared vision? How should a department or school determine how to integrate a curriculum that best prepares students for success after education?